After a lot of talk about moving up or down in the 2014 NHL Draft, teams sounded less optimistic about swapping picks for other selections or roster players on Thursday.

Then again, Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon is leaving the door open at least a little bit regarding moving the first overall pick. He’s leaving it open 30 percent, to be exact.

“It’s going to be a tough decision for us if we do take the pick,” Tallon told the Florida Sun-Sentinel. “We’re about 70 percent we’re going to take the pick. We’ve had a few real concrete offers that are intriguing, one really intriguing one. We’re going to have a sleepless night tonight. Our staff is going to think about it, sit on it, ponder it and if we take the pick we’re excited about that as well.”

I highly doubt outside of a team trading their franchise player that Tallon was going to trade the #1 pick. Every year the GM of the team that gets the #1 pick always leads the illusion that the pick could be traded and it rarely rarely ever happens. Of course if the pick is traded I will be eating my size 11.5 Sketches for dinner tomorrow night.

Always remember the Florida has a history of trading top picks. When Colorado talked about it last year, everyone knew they were just blowing smoke. This year however, it has to be taken more seriously…not only because it’s Florida, but also because there isn’t a stand out player amongst the top 4.

atwatercrushesokoye - Jun 26, 2014 at 8:50 PM

Ekblad has taken on that stand out label because he’s so much better than the second best defenseman (at this point) but the 3 forwards seem to be about the same, so for a team to trade up for the number 1 it really has to be because they want Ekblad otherwise they might as well pay less and go up to 2-4.

atwatercrushesokoye - Jun 26, 2014 at 8:45 PM

Flames assistant GM Craig Conroy was on the radio today and admitted the Flames were trying to trade into the top 3 (the only spot that makes sense is number 1 unless they’re talking about a second 1st round pick) but that the price was way too high right now and as of now the Flames won’t make the trade…but that could change.

chanceoffleury - Jun 26, 2014 at 9:18 PM

Well when Vancouver practically gave away Cory Schneider for a 9th overall last year, teams are expecting unrealistic returns when trading their top 10 pick in a weaker draft year.

I still can’t believe after all the Vancouver goalie drama that that was the offer they ended up taking.

At this point who gives a faq. A franchise that hasnt been $ hit outside of having a top 5 pick since Beezer was goalie. No one cares about your team..get out of the news until you move to Portland or next year when your in thetop 5 again..as usual

Ahhy..no one liked my comment. You enjoy the endless tirade that is pseudo-trade drama surrounding the Panthers year after year. You would rather discuss potential, and meritorious trades that Florida wont make to better their team? Constantly remain basement dwellers, stockpiling talent and going nowhere like an Edmonton-clone 2.0?
But I do have Flyers in my name so that gets thumbs down regardless if I simultaneously cured cancer, figured how to mine minerals on an asteroid, and discovered the meaning of life.

As a Jets fan I’d love that trade. Buff is good in certain ways but seems married to the idea that he’s a defencemen.
His moments of brilliance are matched my momenta of sheer frustration. Ekblad has a much higher ceiling & could make the Jets have a scary back end in 1-2 years ..

Trouba/Bogo (dynamic .. .. When healthy)
Morrissey/Ekblad

Pavelec will never allow the Jets to make the playoffs but with Hutchinson & then Hellybuck & Comrie in the pipelines you expect to hit on one of them

Pavelfitzgerald
Being you are not that in love with Buff, we in Minnesota would gladly take one of your players off your hands Wheeler. since he is a hometown boy, would love to see him play back in Minny
Was very upset to hear that the classice for 2015-16 will probably be here in Minny but against the stars. what a kick in the arse for all the fans in Minny would have preferred the Jets since we are not that far apart. and to me it is more of a rivalry than the Stars

I agree with everything you said .. .. Minus taking Wheeler lol. He’s a dynamic kid & is turning into one of the better wingers in the league.
I do like Buff & would like to keep him, I just think Ekblad would be better long term & that the 9th/Buff would be worth it.
I was hoping the game would be in Minny or Wpg against the other. It makes too much sense for it not to happen

What about a Heritage Classic against the Wild at the new Bombers stadium? That actually sounds better than a classic against any of the other Canadian teams, especially since they’re both in the same division too.

it figures that FLA gets the top pick with no real top consensus superstar. they badly need offense, so Eckblad wont help much. the two Sam’s are abit undersized and i dont see being anything better than average. if Tallon can get a good wing and not fall too far back i say do it.